Sarah Kingdom Checks In At The Victoria Falls Safari Club And Discovers A Place That Combines The Spectacle Of The Falls With The Serenity Of The Bush.
Victoria Falls is one of those rare natural wonders that delivers on its reputation. The Zambezi River, having flowed broad and calm through or along the borders of Zambia, Angola, Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe, suddenly plunges more than a hundred metres into the Batoka Gorge, creating a spectacle so powerful that the spray rising high into the air can be seen from miles away.
The local name, Mosi-oa-Tunya, “the smoke that thunders,” captures it perfectly. Nothing really prepares you for the roar, the curtain of water, or the sudden rainbows that appear in the mist. It’s one of those natural spectacles that overwhelms all the senses at once. For travellers who come to witness this marvel, Victoria Falls Safari Club offers the perfect base from which to explore both the drama of the falls and the tranquillity of the surrounding bush.
A short distance from the town of Victoria Falls, Victoria Falls Safari Club occupies a stretch of land bordering the Zambezi National Park. Its elevated position gives wide views over a landscape of open plains, woodlands, and a busy waterhole, where elephant, buffalo, kudu, warthog and more come to drink.
On my first visit here, I’d stood on the terrace, sundowner in hand, and watched a herd of elephants make their way slowly across the open plain below, heading to the waterhole. Later, as darkness came, the sounds of the bush took over; frogs, crickets and, every so often, the call of a nightjar. The location feels remote and unspoiled, while still being only a short drive from the falls themselves – the best of both worlds.
Each of the 20 suites at the Safari Club looks out across the bush, with wide glass doors opening onto a large balcony. Waking in the morning, with the distinct possibility of spotting wildlife from your room, before the sun has barely risen and you’ve even contemplated breakfast, is an experience in itself.
There’s a central guest area featuring a dining area and bar, a lounge and a viewing deck which overlooks the game corridor to the Zambezi River and the wildlife-rich waterhole. There’s a two-tiered swimming pool, featuring a 15m lap pool and sundeck. Guests also have access to a well-equipped fitness centre, and the fabulous spa is a short stroll away.
If you’re anything like me, then dining forms an important part of your holiday experience! Meals at the Safari Club are taken either in the main dining area or outside on the deck. Breakfast is generous, with fruit, cereals and cooked-to-order options, while dinners are a more formal affair, usually featuring Zimbabwean produce and flavours. The service is attentive but relaxed, and always with the sense that the staff want you to feel at home. Watching the sunset here, with a glass of wine, as the sky turns a deep orange behind the silhouettes of the acacia trees, is the kind of moment that will make you forget the world outside.
Of course, the main reason most people come here is the Victoria Falls themselves. The lodge can arrange guided tours of the falls, or you can head to town on the complimentary shuttle bus and visit them under your own steam. Once you reach the falls, you’ll find yourself walking along a network of paths, passing through patches of rainforest kept permanently damp by the spray, and emerging at viewpoints where the sheer scale of the water flowing over the edge takes your breath away.
Beyond the falls, there are countless ways to experience the area. For the adventurous, there’s white-water rafting down the Zambezi, through Grade Five rapids. There’s also the option to take a helicopter flight, and from the air you’ll truly grasp the scale and sweep of the river, the vast curtain of water, and the deep gorge carved over millennia. Less adrenaline-fuelled but equally memorable is a sunset boat cruise, where hippos snort just metres away and crocodiles bask on the banks.
Victoria Falls town adds another layer to the journey. The streets are lined with craft markets and cafés, and the historic bridge linking Zimbabwe and Zambia provides one of the most striking vantage points over the gorge. Built in 1905, the bridge is still in use for rail and road traffic, and is a popular spot for bungee jumping and zip-lining. The town itself has a decidedly frontier character, with visitors from all corners of the globe mixing with guides and locals, creating a lively yet unhurried atmosphere.
Back at the Safari Club, the pace is deliberately slower. Afternoons might be spent by the pool or relaxing on your balcony. There’s a daily ‘vulture culture’ experience, where guests have the opportunity to witness the spectacular sight of hundreds of vultures swooping down to feed on leftover meat scraps and bones from the on-site restaurants. There’s a photographic hide and a bird hide, but it’s the lodge waterhole that draws the most attention. As daylight fades, animals appear in increasing numbers, from solitary antelopes to herds of buffalo and elephants or, if you’re lucky, perhaps a lone hyena.
What distinguishes Victoria Falls Safari Club from so many of the other accommodation options in town, is the way it manages to combine comfort with a sense of place. It never feels cut off from its surroundings; the wild is always present, whether in the sounds of the night or the sight of animals passing by. The wildlife is not a staged attraction but rather a part of the daily rhythm, visible from the terrace or while dining outdoors.
Staff speak with pride about the lodge’s conservation initiatives and its engagement with local communities, through training, employment, and the sourcing of produce. Sustainability is not presented as an afterthought, but as part of the ethos of the property, ensuring that tourism benefits both the environment and the people who live here.
Victoria Falls remains one of the most extraordinary natural spectacles on the planet, and the Safari Club provides an environment in which to experience it with comfort and style. For those wanting both the spectacle of the falls and the serenity of the bush, this is an excellent choice.
Tell me more about Victoria Falls Safari Club
Victoria Falls Safari Club, Stand 471c Squire Cummings Ave, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.
E: saflodgeres@vfsl.co.zw T: +263 83 284 3202 – 6
Rates:Green Season (1 Jan – 30 June) Club Room £295/$395, Club Suite £356/$477
High Season (1 July – 31 Dec) Club Room from £680/$445, Club Suite from £406/$545
Rates are per person per night, on a Bed and Breakfast Basis
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